Red, White and Blue Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries for the Fourth of July

These red, white and blue cheesecake-stuffed strawberries come together in minutes and are perfect for festive Fourth of July treats. They’ll be the hit of your backyard barbecue or potluck picnic this weekend.
Yesterday I packed up the car with the kids and headed towards the Minneapolis Farmers Market. This isn’t anything new. We can often be found browsing the vendor stalls while holding hands and maneuvering the crowds of people, trying to stay relatively together and decide which fresh and local produce to bring home with us, and we have been spotted and called out several times doing just that.

Yesterday was different, however, as I had also packed a bag full of odds and ends, and instead of browsing vendor stalls, I was headed to do a Market Talk under a large white tent, filling in for a certain Stephanie who happened to be enjoying a last-minute trip to Provence.

I had planned a simple dessert, perfect for picnics, as there are no utensils required, and with it being the Fourth of July weekend here in the States, I’d planned to make it festive, with a sprinkling of natural blue sparkling sugar to complete the red, white and blue of Independence Day.

We set up and fitted everyone with fancy shmancy gloves.
We set about prepping our strawberries and chatting up the crowd about what their favorite desserts were, as well as answering questions from Emily.
The kids did a great job staying on task, even with their uncut hairs hanging in their eyes.
Lene provided entertainment for the breaks in between, with smiles, winks and waves to her uncle in the crowd. That would be my brother, Joel, who after inheriting my camera when I upgraded this winter, was kind enough to give up his Saturday morning to take photos for me. I like brothers.
It kind of looks like those kids of mine know what they’re doing, doesn’t it? I was so proud of how well they did with a crowd of people in front of them.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this picture. My daughter looks like a giant. Can we rewind the clock 11 years, please? Maybe just 5 years even?
The smallest and the largest member of our family cheered us on.
Lene put the finishing touches on our strawberry samples: natural blue sugar courtesy of Chocolate Craft. If you’re looking for food dye alternatives to decorate cakes or cookies, I’ve been loving the samples they sent me.
Happy Fourth of July to all of you in the U.S., and to everyone else, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Using a knife or strawberry huller, remove stems from strawberries, cutting a small cavity into the center of the berry. Beat together cream cheese, honey, agave and just enough cream to make the mixture smooth. Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip or into a zip-top bag (cutting of one tip before piping).

Pipe the cream cheese into the center of the strawberries. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

I’ve seen this idea before, but I always forget about it. It’s really perfect for the 4th with the blue sugar! Mascarpone could also be a gourmet substitute for the cream cheese. I find myself “deconstructing” many desserts lately, with so many people having gluten issues and the rest of us needing to cut back as we age.

Hello, I'm Shaina. Food for My Family is where I share recipes, tips, opinions, and my philosophy on food as Ole and I strive to teach our four children how to eat well: seasonally, locally, organically, deliciously, and balanced. [Read more...]

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Hi, I am Shaina Olmanson. I am a work-at-home mom of four, feeding my family and my friends one plate at a time. I share recipes, tips, opinions and my philosophy on food as I strive to teach my four children how to eat well: seasonally, locally, organically, deliciously and balanced.